Carton tray apparatus

An articulable carton tray apparatus for containment and protection of articles, such as food produce articles, which apparatus resists collapse during stacking while maintaining its assembled configuration under load, said carton tray apparatus comprising:

• a bottom wall having oppositely arranged first and second side edges and oppositely arranged first and second end edges, said first and second side edges extending substantially perpendicular to said first and second end edges,
• said bottom wall further defining a plurality of corner regions;
• first and second side walls extending along and emanating upwardly from said first second side edges respectively;
• first and second end walls extending along and emanating upwardly from said first and second end edges, respectively;
• first and second top walls extending along and emanating from said first and second end walls, respectively;
• said bottom wall, said first and second side walls, and said first and second end walls, upon articulation of same, describing an article containment region;
• said first and second top walls, extending, upon articulation, substantially parallel to said bottom wall to partially cover said article containment region;
• flap means operably emanating from at least one of said first and second side walls, said first and second end walls, and said first and second top walls, for operable alignment with an adjacent respective one of said first and second side walls, said first and second end walls, and said first and second top walls,
• said flap means including a peripheral portion and an internal portion;
• first locking means for maintaining said articulation of said bottom wall, said first and second side walls, said first and second end walls, and said first and second top walls,
• said first locking means including at least one first locking member positioned within and operably emanating from said internal portion of said flap means for operable positive engagement with said adjacent respective one of said first and second side walls, said first and second end walls, and said first and second top walls;
• and
• support column means, operably positioned, upon articulation, in a support position between at least one of said first and second top walls, and said bottom wall, for resisting collapse of said carton apparatus during stacking.